GILGIT: The Planning Commission of Pakistan has approved Rs1.5 billion for the purchase of modern machinery for government hospitals in Gilgit-Baltistan.

The money to be provided by the Islamic Bank will be given to the region’s health department, an official of the Gilgit chief sectary office on Thursday.

The official told Dawn that the Planning Commission had approved the amount of money during a recent meeting of the Central Development Working Committee in Islamabad. He said a request for the money was sent to the Planning Commission by the GB Development Working Party three months ago.

The official said the money would be used to buy modern machinery for district headquarters hospitals of Skardu, Gilgit and Chilas.

He said the installation of modern machinery would improve patient care at the region’s hospitals.

Visitors, mostly the poor people, complain facilities at government hospitals in the region are very poor to their misery.